It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
